Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Berkeley Heights, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 90.7% of gross income.

Berkeley Heights rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Berkeley Heights median rent
$3,354/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (New Jersey)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
90.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Berkeley Heights's median rent of $3,354 exceeds that threshold by $2,245/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 157.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a nursing assistant salary

Nursing assistant (CNA) pay falls below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in nearly every US metro, which is the central tension behind the widely studied direct-care workforce affordability gap. At the national-average CNA salary, the 30% rule supports about $990 a month in rent — below median rent in most cities. The per-city pages quantify how far below.

Cheaper rent nearby

These New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Berkeley Heights, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Park Ridge, NJ
$3,353/mo (90.7% of income)
Morganville, NJ
$3,352/mo (90.7% of income)
Montvale, NJ
$3,351/mo (90.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Berkeley Heights

View full rent data for Berkeley Heights, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Berkeley Heights, NJ?

Median rent in Berkeley Heights is $3,354 a month. A typical nursing assistant in New Jersey earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 90.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Berkeley Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in New Jersey (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Berkeley Heights's current median rent is $3,354/mo, which is $2,245/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Berkeley Heights?

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in New Jersey works roughly 157.3 hours a month to cover Berkeley Heights's median rent of $3,354.

Where is rent cheaper than Berkeley Heights for a nursing assistant?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Park Ridge ($3,353/mo), Morganville ($3,352/mo), Montvale ($3,351/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New Jersey state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Berkeley Heights, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.